Hi,

I was just going through some basic tuning tutorials to understand ECUFlash and what all can be done with it. I saw one table that controlled AFR's and Timing Advances. If this can be controlled using ECUFlash, what is the advantage of buying an Aftermarket Intake that would lean out the AFR's to give you more HP? I can see why it would help if the stock intake is no good beyond a certain level. For example, if a company says the stock intake starts to become restrictive in applications of 400HP and over, but hey, their intake will be non-restrictive until 800HP. But I am wondering if that is really the case. Would anybody care to shed some light on this topic?

Thanks.

 

Intakes should never be used to modify AFR. They should only be used to FLOW MORE AIR.

Using a tuning tool such as the ZChip for control over AFR is the most cost effective gain in performance available for the evo. www.zchip.net has more info.

 

Wow what a shameless plug for Z-Chip!!! Vendors should only be able to contribute but not pluf in there items for sales!!

Obviously he's already getting into ECUFlash although he's using a non-public beta version that I wouldn't be posting about FYI.

However TTP is right. Use an intake to draw more air in. Not to mod the AFR. That's what the tunning is for. You build up your mods, the mods change the AFR, and then you change the AFR tables to what the best performance but safe AFR should be. You add more mods and retune to go back to that safe/performance AFR. Also please tell me you aren't considering tuning without having a Wideband and data logger!?! Those should be your first thing to worry about! If you plan to tune without those you don't know what your AFR is and if you run too lean. Boom! If too rich then you are defeating the purpose of a tune.

 

I don't post a lot here but I do read a lot here. I just had to chime in with my view that these forums read like a weird Advertorial sometimes. I really didn't come into this thread to read about the Z-chip but to read about intake mods with ECUflash. But I'm going to say this since you guys invaded the thread with your advertisement - I would never consider buying a Z-chip. In my opinion it has no purpose given all of the great ECU flashing tools and options out there. Sure the Z-chip is cheaper than any thing else but then again I'm not going to sweat a couple of hundred dollars on a $30k+ car.

That being said. If an intake is changing the AFR, couldn't you tune around that? Just like other mods that change the AFR?

 

^ Yes exactly. You tune the ECU to a desired AFR and when you mod you fix it so you stay that that AFR. For example...the intake changes the AFR by SAY, this is just hypothetical, .5 points. You then use your wideband and data logging to get the AFR back to where you want. Say you already tuned a stock Evo to 11.1 AFR and then you add a intake and it bumps the AFR to 11.6, you then datalog and use mathematical equations to write the new target AFR in the map.

From nj1266 in the how to tune a evo thread:

 

There is no ECUflash available for public on the Evo X so I'm not sure why this is even here other than to brag about someone getting their hands on a bootleg copy, if he even has it.

There are limited tuning tools available, most of which are not able to be tuned by the end user. I bought my ZChip for this very reason. I can tune it myself, it was an easy pnp install and can be removed without having to track down your tuner for reflash back to stock.

It won double SEMA awards and last time I called them they have been sold out for about two weeks now with a waiting list still backordered.

To the OP, aside from the bashing from BigMikeOC... I agree with the other posters that stated you should not use a intake that tricks the car into thinking there is less air to lean it out. Buy an intake when the car needs it to get more airflow.

 

wow, I cannot understand why you have to be so judgmental about such a simple question. As I have already stated, I am new to tuning, and hence the reason for going through tutorials. I also do not remember stating I had a "bootleg" of ECUFlash 1.41.

completely unrelated and .


this was all I needed.

 

i thought just about all the intakes out there in the market play with the AFR to boast of HP increases. Are there others too that don't do this?

 

I did not know that, thank you.

 

Yes all air intakes mostly play with the AFR and that is why you get more power. The leaner a car is the more power. But u can't go too lean or it's dangerous. Most stock systems are restrictive the X isn't that restrictive....but does have a limit and that is the good part of an aftermarket intake...it will have a much higher limit to it's amount of air flow.

 

Thank you, I think that answers all my doubts.